A federal lawsuit that had cast uncertainty over one of Southwest Florida's largest master-planned communities has been resolved. National Audubon Society and Cameratta Companies — the developer behind both Verdana Village and the 10,000-home Kingston community — reached a settlement on August 13 that clears the way for Kingston's first model homes to open on Corkscrew Road within the next two months.
What the Settlement Covers
Audubon sued the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in August 2025 after the agency issued Cameratta a permit for Kingston, a roughly 6,700-acre community planned for about 10,000 homes just north of Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. A federal judge denied Audubon's request for an emergency injunction in January, and construction continued. Under the settlement, Cameratta has agreed to purchase about 98 acres off Carter Road to preserve as panther habitat and to give up a 100-foot easement that would have allowed a road connecting Lee and Collier counties through the Sanctuary. Homebuyers at Kingston, not taxpayers, will absorb the cost of the land purchase.
A Corkscrew Road Corridor Already on Our Radar
Kingston sits along the same Corkscrew Road growth corridor as Verdana Village, and Lennar, Neal Communities, Pulte and Taylor Morrison are all building in its early phases. With the legal challenge resolved, Kingston is on track to welcome its first model homes this fall, adding to the wave of major-developer commitment already reshaping the Estero side of the Corkscrew corridor.
Not Everyone Sees It as a Win
The settlement has critics. Matthew Schwartz of the South Florida Wildlands Association, which is separately suing over a similar project near Big Cypress, pointed out that the preserved acreage is a small fraction of Kingston's total footprint and called it "a huge loss" for panther habitat. Cameratta's attorney described the outcome as one that worked well for both sides.
What This Means for Buyers and Sellers
For buyers watching Kingston, Verdana Village or the wider Corkscrew corridor, the settlement removes a source of legal uncertainty that could have delayed construction or sales timelines — generally good news for anyone hoping to buy new construction in the area this fall. For sellers of existing homes nearby, continued large-scale development is a signal that buyer demand for the corridor isn't slowing down. If you're weighing a purchase near Corkscrew Road or wondering how nearby development affects your home's value, call us at 239.745.8903 or visit our Estero Realtor page to get started.
Details on the settlement, its terms and reaction from conservation groups are drawn from reporting by Gulfshore Business. Read the original coverage at gulfshorebusiness.com.